In the Polycrisis Era, Infrastructure Defenders Need to Broaden, not Tighten, Their Focus

Marked by multiple concurrent overlapping and interconnected challenges, the Polycrisis Era portends an unprecedented mix of threats to infrastructure protection and demands more resilience planning and preparation than ever before. This article explores some distinct facets of the Polycrisis Era, tracing its emergence, its unique characteristics, and the societal implications of failing to adequately address these challenges. Importantly, the case is made that infrastructure defenders in the operational technology (OT) cyber space and those primarily concerned with physical climate risks should consider enhanced communication and collaboration with each other. Put another way, in an age of simultaneous, interwoven crises, it is advantageous for infrastructure defenders to think beyond their traditional domains. In order to examine this topic and to facilitate productive collaboration, an exploratory typology is advanced.